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Typical District Transfer Age Photo
Terrible lighting. Sorry.
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Best wishes, good health, and a happy new year to all!
This week was a week. Not the best one of my life, nor the
worst, it it just didn't have much to
it. Holidays are weird as a missionary and there was some confusion on the
rules and expectations for New Year's Eve and day on the mission leadership
level, so we were expecting one thing and it ended up being different. We went
running Wednesday morning for exercises and it was awesome. Until the next day
when I could hardly move and my back hurt like never before. I'm slightly
falling apart but it's all good.
No it was a good week. There is always good in each day.
Tuesday we didn't completely drop a member in a wheelchair down the
stairs. Miracle. Wednesday we had an inspired district meeting about divine
nature. It felt like young womens. Thursday we ran. And after studies we
ventured out to
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| Soeur Soileau bought me a meringue because I won our "Elf on a Shelf" challenge. |
St. Pol sur Ternoise, taught and ate with a member who made us
boudin and compote de pome and stuffed us so full. Basically like thanksgiving.
We were not invited to anyone's home for New Year's Eve so we worked quand
même. Friday we did not get to sleep in like we thought we initially could, but
that's ok. We had a New Year's Day lunch with the Riem family, which was
lovely. It was a ghost town and the only people out were drunk...so we
organized the area book, made calls, came up with some plans, did weekly
planning and tried to make ourselves useful and productive.
Saturday. Saturday was deemed Carpe Diem day during our
weekly planning last week for this week. It means that we just go crazy and
don't let a person pass us without contacting them. Seizing absolutely every
situation no matter what to share the gospel. It was hard. But it felt good at
the end of the day. That kind of makes it sound like we don't take every
opportunity normally, but we do. Sometimes we can't contact everyone or it's
not the most efficient thing to do at the time. This day was "gotta catch
'em all" Day.
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Seconds after my phone call
withElder Martin calling
me to be a trainer! Ah.
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It also was Répertoire day. The day we get transfer
assignments. Repertoire is sent by email at noon. BUT leadership calls from the
Assistants and Président start at 10. So one's phone feels like a time bomb. We
were contacting our hearts out and we nearly made it to 11am without a call
until 10:54... AP1 calls. I answered and it was Elder Martin, my good friend
from my Paris days. He is the U.S. Naval Academy one from Texas, called
Mandarin speaking. Anyway. He informed me that I was called to be TRAINING!
Again haha This time it will be a fresh bleue from the MTC. I'm gonna be a Mom!
I've trained twice, but the first one, Soeur Dufour, was a
visa waiter and I was with Soeur Tane too, so that was a bit different. And I
step-mom-ed Soeur Soileau, though I consider myself her real mom. So I have yet
to have a bleue that is fresh from the plane and going to stay in this mission.
Ah. I'm a bit nervous but mostly excited. I know it is an inspired calling and
what the Lord wants for the both of us. Also, a little excited because it's
already giving me more energy to finish strong. I was really feeling my steam
run out this week, but change is good and new beginnings are good. All good
things. All good things.
Also. DREAM COME TRUE. Soeur Rachel Hogan is coming into my
district for her last transfer! I couldn't be happier. So many blessings. I am
sad though to see Soeur Soileau leave. She is a best friend and a wonderful
companion. It has been amazing to see her change and step up to the plate of
being a missionary. She is going to be wonderful. She is going to Orléans be
companions with my
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mission sister, Soeur Tilby, who Soeur Stevens just finished
training before she finished her mission in December. Everything is so
connected. Haha I'm excited for her. She'll be great.
With the New Years traditions and being a missionary, goals
are basically my life. I prayed and read my patriarchal blessing before making
yearly goals to try and get some inspiration on them. I made goals for the rest
of my mission and goals for once I get home, which has been not super fun to
face. Finding the balance is a bit trickier than I anticipated. But I am
excited for whatever the Lord has I store for me this year. 2015 was a year
full of just about everything and I am so glad I was blessed with all the
experiences I was given. I know that God has a plan for every single one of us.
It isn't always, and sometimes hardly ever, is our own plan, but it is always
better for us. I am grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who knows me better
than I do and who watches out for me.
I know God and Jesus
Christ live. I know they love you. I know that we can start again because of
their love and their sacrifice. There is no such thing as the end, for we can
always try again. Here's to trying a little harder to be a little better. I
know we can do it.
Love,
Sœur Kate Simpson
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